The Effects of 3-Month Skill-Based and Plyometric Conditioning on Fitness Parameters in Junior Female Volleyball Players
in Pediatric Exercise ScienceClick name to view affiliation
Purpose: This study compared the effects of skill-based and plyometric conditioning (both performed in addition to regular volleyball training twice a week for 12 wk) on fitness parameters in female junior volleyball players. Methods: The participants [n = 47; age: 16.6 (0.6) y; mass: 59.4 (8.1) kg; height: 175.1 (3.0) cm] were randomized into a plyometric (n = 13), a skill-based (n = 17), and a control (n = 17) groups. The variables included body height, body mass, calf girth, calf skinfold, corrected calf girth, countermovement jump, 20-m-sprint, medicine ball toss, and sit-and-reach test. Results: Two-way analysis of variance (time × group) effects for time were significant (P < .05) for all variables except body mass. Significant group × time interactions were observed for calf skinfold [η2 = .14; medium effect size (ES)], 20-m sprint (η2 = .09; small ES), countermovement jump (η2 = .29; large ES), medicine ball (η2 = .58; large ES), with greater gains (reduction of skinfold) for plyometric group, and sit-and-reach (η2 = .35; large ES), with greater gains in plyometric and skill-based groups. The magnitude-based inference indicated positive changes in 1) medicine ball toss and countermovement jump for all groups; 2) sit-and-reach for the plyometric and skill-based groups; and 3) 20-m sprint, calf girth, calf skinfold, and corrected calf girth for plyometric group only. Conclusion: Selected variables can be improved by adding 2 plyometric training sessions throughout the period of 12 weeks. Additional skill-based conditioning did not contribute to improvement in the studied variables compared with regular volleyball training.
Idrizovic is with the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro. Gjinovci is with the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo. Sekulic, Uljevic, and Spasic are with the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia. João is with the Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Villa Real, Portugal. Sattler is with the Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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